Carton



March 17, 1936. C, NORRI Em, 2,034,594

CARTON Filed Dec. 30, 1933 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES E T oFFlcl:

Chicago,

Ill., assignors to, The Chicago Label & Box 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 30, 1933, Serial No. 704,672

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cartons, and has among its objects to provide a sealed container of such character that after the seal is broken a spout is available for pouring contents, such spout being collapsible to form a closure when not in use; to provide a box of the character described which may be economically manufactured and sold in knocked-down form, and to provide a box in which the spout member is an integral part of the box itself.

These and other objects'are more fully set forth and described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cut and scored blank;

Fig. 2 is a view of the completed and sealed carton drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 on a still larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a part of the box showing the spout portion in opened position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the side wings folded inwardly; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the top of the box show- 25 ing the spout portion closed after the wings have been moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 5, this figure being drawn to smaller scale.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawing, in which I indicates generally a blank cut out of suitable material, such as paper boxboard, or the like, the blank being formed with the side portions I I, I2 and the end portions I3, I4. Reinforcing tongue I projects from the side I I, as illustrated 5 in Fig. 1. To form the ultmate bottom of the carton, we have provided the bottom flaps I I-a, I3-a, I2a and M-a, respectively, each severed from the contiguous flaps by a cut, as illustrated. To form the ultimate top are the flaps II-b, I3-b, I2-b and I4-b, while the reinforcing tongue I5 is provided with a bottom tab I5a and a top tab I5b, these latter tabs being cut adjacent the flaps II-a, II-b, as illustrated. Slight notches I2-:1: are provided at the juncture of the tab I2c and the flap IZ-b to enhance the locking effect of the tab after the package has been once opened. Flap I Ib is also out along the edge I Ic.

The bottom flaps IIa to I5-a, inclusive, are scored along the line A to provide hinge points. Similarly a scoring or bending line B is provided at the juncture of the upper flaps I I-b to I5-b, I inclusive.

' Projecting outwardly from the flaps I3b and I4b are the tabs I3-c, I4c, while from the flap I2b projects a small tab I2c.

The portion of the top flaps between tabs I2c and I3-c are scored along the diagonals C, D and areprovided with the bisecting scoring line E. Similarly, between the upper flaps I2b and I4-b are provided the scoring lines F, G and H.

In assembly of the box, the blank may be bent along the scoring line between body portions I2 and I3 and the tongue I5 bent to underlie end portion It to which it is suitably secured, as by gluing or the like. This partially completed carton may be shipped in this flat marked-down form, if so desired.

In the completion of the carton, it is desirable first to effect the closure and sealing of the top before charging the carton with whatever material is to be packaged therein. One method of folding and sealing the top portion which we have found satisfactory, is as follows: The blank, partially assembled as described above, is forced to expanded position, after which all of the flaps except II-b are folded to assembled relation with the tab IZ-c located as illustrated in Fig. 3. The tabs I3-c and I4-c are suitably secured in folded position as by gluing, or the like, after which the flap II-b is folded down and glued, or otherwise suitably secured 'to the underlying portion of the box. To effect these operations, any suitable mechanism or apparatus may be utilized, although it is preferable to utilize an anvil block in the interior of the carton with a presser member to press the members into folded and secured relation, this in cooperation with the anvil block. The tab I2c will' assume the position as indicated in Fig. -3 of the drawing.

The carton may then be charged with the material to be packaged and the bottom flaps I I a, I2-a and Iii-a folded to final position and secured therein as by gluing, or the like.

A label or sealing member 20 is placed upon and glued to the folder top, as illustrated in Fig. 3, at any suitable time during the completion and closing of the carton.

When it is desired to pour out the contents of the carton, the label 20 may be cut or severed along the free edge of flap IIb and at its ends, following which the user may insert a. finger beneath the flap II-b to hook or engage the tab I2c and lift the hinged flap I2b to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, in which condition a narrowing spout is provided which permits accurate and easy pouring of the contents of the carton into any desired receptacle. If the entire content of the carton is not removed at one time, 55

the remainder may be substantially sealed against the entrance of moisture or the escape of valuable constituents thereof by reinserting the tab l2--c into the interior of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in which position there is suficient resistance afforded by such tab to hold the hinged flap of the top in closed position. The notches iL-x contribute to the maintenance of the cover in closed position. If preferred, the bellows-like wings may be folded in, as illustrated in Fig. 5, before closure of the hinged flap, in which event the top will appear as illustrated in Fig. 6.

It will be apparent that these bellows-like wings and the converging edges 10 and F of the hinged nap provide what I have termed above a narrowing spout, which serves to concentrate any substance poured from the carton into a relatively small stream, thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of spilling the contents when directing theminto a cup, glass, or other receptacle.

It will be apparent that our invention is susceptible to modification, and we do not wish to be restricted to theembodiment illustrated and described, except as the appended claims limit us thereto properly interpreted with respect to the prior art.

What we claim is:

1. A carton comprising a body portion, a top, said top including a hinged flap, a complementary flap secured in closed position, collapsible wings attached to said hinged flap, the edges of said collapsible wings and the inward edge of said complementary straight line to facilitate slitting the sealing means, said hinged flap and said collapsible wings comprising a spout for said carton when in opened position.

2. A carbon comprising a body portion and a top, said top comprising two side flaps and two end flaps. one of said side flaps being secured to said end flaps in closed position, the other side flap being hinged, collapsible wings extending between said end fiaps and said hinged flap, said hinged flap having a projecting tab, said tab being constructed to underlie said other side flap in closed position and coacting with said end flaps to provide positive closing means for said carton.

3. A carton comprising a body portion and a top, said top comprising two side flaps and two end flaps, one of said side flaps being secured to said end flaps in closed position, the other side flap being hinged, collapsible wings extending beflap substantially meeting in a tween said end flaps and said hinged flap, means on said hinged flap releasably to secure said hinged flap in closed position, said last named means including a tab, said tab having side notches at its junction with said hinged flap, said notches engaging said end flaps when said hinged flap is in closed position.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a lank for a carton, said blank being provided with side wall portions and top portions hingedly secured thereto, one of said top portions being free at its ends, another ,top portion being provided with bending lines converging from its hinged connection to said side wall portionsand having locking means projecting from its edge remote from its hinged side, the adjacent top portions being provided with oppositely directed bending lines to form with said first named bendinglines collapsible bellows-like wings and having projections adapted to cooperate with said locking means.

5. In a carton, end flaps and side flaps, one of said side flaps beingsecured in closed position, the other having a tab on the inner edge thereof and being releasable at will, collapsible wings attached to the sides of said last named flap, said end flaps being adapted to underlie the secured side flap, each said end flap having one of said collapsible wings attached to provide walls of a pouring spout when said releasable side flap is opened, notches at the junction of said tab with said releasable side flap, said tab being adapted to underlie said closed side flap and said end flaps when said releasable side flap is in closed position, said notches being adapted to engage with the said end flaps as they lie beneath said closed side flap.

6. In a container having a pouring spout, a pouring flap having collapsible wings on the sides thereof, a closed flap complementary to said pouring flap, and end flaps adapted to underlie said closedflap, said end flaps being so shaped that they partially underlie said pouring flap, whereby an orifice is created upon the opening of said pouringflap through which the matter in the container may be poured, a tab member on said pouring spout, notches in said tab member at its junction with the pouring flap, said notches interlocking with said end flaps when the pouring flap is in closed position.

CLYDE J. NORRIS. VICTOR FORTH. 

